"Oh, I know you don't think I amount to much, Bill; I know the world don't care for me, but I'll make her care one of these days."
"When the worm turns on the woodpecker."
"That's all right, Bill. Have all the flings you want. But I'll tell you one thing: I don't talk about the Bible bein' the greatest book in the world, and then go in the woods and lay for a feller to mash his mouth. Oh, I know all about it. My girl's brother see the feller git on the train with his jaw tied up, and I knowed what had happened."
"You say the fellow's mouth was mashed?" said Milford.
"Yes, mashed as flat as a pancake."
"Then you want to keep your mouth shut."
"All right, Bill, I understand."
Milford walked about the room. "We are neglecting everything," he said. "It's time to feed the cattle." They went out to the barn, neither of them speaking. Mitchell climbed into the loft and tossed down the hay; Milford measured out oats to the horses. In silence they returned to the house.
"Why don't you say something?" said Milford.
"When I said the feller's mouth was mashed you said I wanted to keep mine shut. I help you learn how to box till you could out-box me, and I guess you can mash my mouth easy enough, Bill."